Libya-Zambia match delayed by storm in African Cup

The match between Libya and Zambia in the African Nations Cup has started after a delay of more than an hour following a 25-minute tropical deluge that waterlogged the pitch at the 37,500-capacity Bata Stadium.

The kickoff was pushed back from 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) to 6:15 p.m. local time (1715 GMT) as stadium employees worked with brooms and planks of wood to push water off the pitch.

Puddles of water was still visible on the field as play started, and the ball had trouble bouncing on the sodden surface.

The match is the first of a doubleheader at the stadium, with Equatorial Guinea playing Senegal in the later match.